World Cup 2018 Qualifying

[John Arne]

Big week coming up for the Asian nations. Final 2 groups games take place on the 24th and 29th March. This is the second round group stage, with group winners and 4 best placed second placed team qualifying for the final group stage (2 groups, with top 2 going to the World Cup, and a play-off between the 3rd placed teams). AFC also recently re-jigged qualifying this time round which meant bigger teams playing smaller teams more often and resulting in results such as Timor Leste 0-10 Saudi Arabia, Qatar 15-0 Bhutan and Kuwait 9-0 Myanmar.

Vietnam have a big mountain to climb having fucked up and let Iraq equalise in the 97th cunting minute a few rounds ago. We play Chinese Taipei this week, then away to Iraq. If we can win both of those games, and Thailand beat Iraq this week - we should qualify for the final round. It won't happen.

https://gyazo.com/338ef6730d44b3e2f2f558df2e6aca9a.png

Elsewhere, current standings/latest results around the world...

South America

https://gyazo.com/b87d723f8fe22965c2981daec24cd7f3.png


Africa

https://gyazo.com/5c89af9b97713f8b4c6f1edaa323cce9.png


Oceania

https://gyazo.com/c24135dab074529c9fe8284b1e84bd0d.png


North America

https://gyazo.com/9cb43233c62444141effa51aa8e47f83.png

[Giggles]

Is Europe allowed in this?

EDIT: Though I'm getting mixed up with the Euros, and qualifying hasn't begun yet.

[John Arne]

UEFA qualifying for the World Cup starts in September of this year.

[Giggles]

UEFA qualifying for the World Cup starts in September of this year.

Yeah I was getting mixed up with all the friendlies this upcoming week.

[leedsrevolution]

Is that tranny still playing for American Samoa? I can't believe how close they came this time.

[Giggles]

What happens with Oceania these days? Still a playoff with 6th South American?

[John Arne]

What happens with Oceania these days? Still a playoff with 6th South American?

Yeah. The top 3 from Group A and B enter another group stage of 3 teams, two groups. The top in each group then play a two-legged final, the winner of that plays CONMEBOL 5th place.

[John Arne]

Just realised that as Indonesia were disqualified from Vietnam's group, that the second place team has less opportunity to accrue points in the race for second-placed teams. Annoying.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They have removed results against the 5th placed teams. As far as I can see, Vietnam need a 3 goal win and then hope that China and Oman both fail to win.

[John Arne]

Ah, that makes more sense. We have started surprisingly well against Iraq.

[John Arne]

20 minutes to go, 1-0 to Iraq. They started time wasting in the 48th minute.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If they go a goal up at any point you're basically toast. The change of tack if they ever do concede an equaliser/go behind is amazing to watch though. From 0 to 100mph in three seconds.

I see Qatar rolled over in China, colour me shocked. I also like how even in an international fixture, Soccerway can't make all the Qatar players have the same flag next to their name. http://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2016/03/29/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/china-pr/qatar/2028648/?ICID=HP_MS_01_07

[ItalAussie]

AFC Third Round:

Group A:
Iran
South Korea
Uzbekistan
China
Qatar
Syria

Group B:
Australia
Japan
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Iraq
Thailand

A little annoyed about the grouping. Was hoping to avoid Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Iraq.

[phonics]

If Brazil manage to cock up qualifying after hiring Dunga, a manager who was no good the first time round, I'll laugh.

[Disco]

I don't fancy Syria away.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Group A is absolute dog poo. What a story if Syria somehow managed to qualify.

[ItalAussie]

Group A is absolute dog poo. What a story if Syria somehow managed to qualify.

I mean, it's just that there's two really obviously strong teams, and everyone else is rubbish. Iran and South Korea will walk it.

I'm more annoyed that we've got three tricky Middle East trips.

[John Arne]

I think you may be underestimating Qatar. I'm going S.Korea and Qatar from Group A and Australia and Japan from Group B. Iraq to reach the inter-continental play-off.

EDIT: Iran, not Iraq.

[ItalAussie]

I think you may be underestimating Qatar. I'm going S.Korea and Qatar from Group A and Australia and Japan from Group B. Iraq to reach the inter-continental play-off.

That's a big call. I might be underestimating them, but Australia and Iraq have had some tough matches in the past, which often haven't gone our way.

You think Iran are going to tank?

[John Arne]

Sorry, I meant Iran for the play-off position, not Iraq.

It's really difficult to call, the second tier Asian teams are so unpredictable and inconsistent. A few years ago China started to sort their shit out, and then suddenly it went completely balls up again. It's going to be interesting to watch.

[Jimmy Floyd]

With all due apologies to Sun Jihai, which probably isn't many, China's problem is that they have yet to produce a decent footballer. You can't really hothouse team sports in the way they like to do for individual Olympic disciplines.

Also, dare I say it, football is about freedom and thinking in the moment.

[ItalAussie]

The UAE knocked off the Saudis in a crazy upset. Opens the door for Australia, even if Japan do a number on us.

If we even get a point against Japan, you'd think we'll qualify safely. We have an easy home match against Thailand to finish up, while the Saudis have Japan. We shouldn't drop points there, and they might.

If Japan beat us, then it'll probably go to goal difference with the Saudis. If we can really put Thailand away, then we'll be safe. At any rate, we'll be motivated to keep scoring. Fingers crossed.

[Jimmy Floyd]

2-1 win for the home team, with a penalty, goals at each end a minute apart, and a stoppage time red card. Probably the most Arab football scoreline ever.

All hail the Emiratis.